Monthly Archives: December 2010

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“La Mission” stars Benjamin Bratt as Che Rivera, a powerful man respected throughout the Mission district of San Francisco for his masculinity and strength, as well as for his hobby of building beautiful, lowrider cars.

A reformed inmate and recovering alcoholic, Che has worked hard to redeem his life and do right by his pride and joy: his only son, Jes (Jeremy Ray Valdez), whom he has raised as a single father.

Jes is on the honor roll and will attend UCLA after graduating. He also is gay and hiding his sexuality from his machismo father.

Che’s world begins to crumble when he discovers Jes’s gay. Che kicks Jes out of their home and struggles with his long-held machismo ideals and his love for his son.

“La Mission” – available on DVD – is a compelling film with a story that’s been invisible on the silver screen – but it’s a worthy and necessary one for audiences to see.

Click here to read an interview with Benjamin and his brother Peter, who wrote and directed the film from, The Advocate. They discuss machismo, cultural identity, misogyny and the evolution of America.

For a second time, Apple has rejected the antigay app “Manhattan Declaration,” according to The Advocate.com

The “Manhattan Declaration” is a 4,700-word statement that, according to its website, was “born out of an urgent concern about growing efforts to marginalize the Christian voice in the public square, to redefine marriage, and to move away from the biblical view of the sanctity of life.” The declaration espouses antigay and antichoice views.

Apple approved the app in October 2010 before banning it the following month as the result of outcry from LGBT watchdog groups and a petition calling the app offensive.

The declaration, written in 2009 and submitted in app form to Apple in 2010, describes LGBT relationships as “immoral sexual partnerships” and “not a civil right,” and included a quiz on gay civil rights and reproductive rights that awarded points for “right” answers, specifically those that were antigay and antichoice.

This year had its share of events that remind us how much road is left to travel on the way to compassion, equality and equal treatment under the law, including homeless gay youth, abuse and bullying of LGBT students and lack of protection in schools and racism.

However, 2010 also had its share of high notes and events worth celebrating. The Advocate has compiled some of the achievements on a list that includes seasoned activists, newfound allies and impartial-but-incisive jurists.

The list is impressive for its inclusive of several transgender newsmakers, but its lacking in representation from the black, Latino and Asian LGBT communities.

Nevertheless, thanks to everyone who made a difference this year. Another year and set of challenges is around the corner.

Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke (left) confirmed on a British talk show he will play gay rugby player Gareth Thomas (right) in an upcoming biopic, according to CNN’s The Marquee Blog via The Advocate.com.

But Rourke was quick to correct British talk show host Alan Carr when he asked Rourke if rumors were true he’d be playing the gay rugby star.

“You’re not supposed to say that, OK?” Rourke said. “When I met the rugby player, Gareth Thomas, this is one thing that he and I talked about. This is something that’s really important: We’re doing a movie about a man who plays rugby who is gay.”